Libero Swapero

Last night in San Antonio, the fans in the McDermott Convocation Center and those of us viewing online sure got our money's worth.  Well, given it was free, I guess we got way more than our actual money's worth out of the match between SFA and UIW.  There were several story lines and I'll try to scoot through them all at some point in this post, but the libero swap between the 3rd and 4th sets is what I want to focus on.

You will occasionally see teams switch liberos in the middle of the match.  Almost always it is due to poor performance of the original starting libero.  Often in cases such as this,  a team doesn't have a particularly strong libero and if adjustments have to get make in-match because of performance, two girls will switch out and put on new jerseys.  I recall seeing this happen several times in Southland Conference play over the past few years.

That wasn't what happened Thursday night.  What happened Thursday night was a masterful counterpunch to the University of Incarnate Word's strategy.  In the process, it showcased just how deep the back row is of Stephen F. Austin and in particular, just how improved sophomore Lexus Cain is when compared to her already strong showing from last year.

No, Thursday wasn't about back row problems, it was about back row dominance.  Earlier in the year at one of the tournaments we played in, Debbie Humphreys told me right before the match that she had talked to her offense about consistently hitting and serving away from the other team's libero.  This is clearly what was going on last night from UIW's standpoint.  I went back to look if I could dig up the reception numbers, but the StatTracker had been reset for UIW's game vs. Northwestern State tomorrow.  I do specifically remember at one point seeing that Cain had 30 service receptions compared to OJ Olson's 9.  Clearly, Incarnate Word was attempting to avoid Olson and make others pass and dig around her.

On the surface it seems reasonable.  Olson is going to be in the Libero of the Year conversation at the end of the year.  At least one reason I am writing this post is in the hope that some voters will realize after her 12 digs in five sets last night, she should be considered MORE for the award now than before.  Because HER stats don't tell the story. The respect that UIW has for her ability is what does.

The problem with UIW's seemingly reasonable strategy to hit and serve away from Olson has one flaw:  Lexus Cain is really freakin' good.

Knowing this, after SFA lost a marathon third set that saw the 'Jacks negate six straight UIW set points, 28-year savvy veteran coach Debbie Humphreys had Cain move into the Libero spot and Olson switch to support.  Think about it.  Now what?  At this point, UIW is forced to do one of two things:  1) They can stick with their strategy that by now has been both mentally and physically ingrained into their hitters for three sets:  hit opposite the libero if possible.  If they do, Olson may be in better position to dig/pass. Or, 2) go away from the game plan and start hitting at Cain in the libero jersey.  Only problem is, Lexus Cain is good enough to play libero right now for some of the schools on our schedule.

Brilliant.

And, it worked.

After the switch, SFA got the lead at the 4th point of the 4th set and despite UIW playing close, never relinquished it and won to tie up the match 2-2.  Then, in the decisive 5th set, the Ladyjacks jumped way out to a 10-4 lead only to see a feisty Cardinal team scratch all the way back before SFA finally closed out the match.

Give credit to Incarnate Word.  They played well, and much like McNeese the week before, gave SFA all they could handle.  Downright scary at times.  Freshman Autumn Lockley is a great complement to the underrated Angelique Vidaurri and the much improved Bryaunea Hall.  But, when you've got TWO stellar back row players like Olson and Cain, SFA really doesn't lose much by switching the two of their roles. At that point, UIW was forced to either stick with the main gain plan or come up with their own adjustments.  In the end, going away from Olson led only to SFA having FIVE girls in double-digit digs. Everyone had Olson's back and it was beautiful to watch.

Now, I realize that UIW could have easily won that match and if they had, I probably wouldn't be writing this.  But hey, when changes work, they make coaching staffs and teams look like geniuses and I haven't been able to get the whole libero switcheroo out of my mind all day today.  It was just awesome to see that move pay off and see the 'Jacks win a very emotional five set thriller.

We've already mentioned the amazing third set that went to 31-29. There's a decent chance that will be the longest set SFA plays this year.  Reflecting on that set, and then reading Humphreys game wrap quote that "there are definitely some things we have to improve on" leads to finishing this post with a two-up, two-down approach to get you to think on some of what she might be referring to. 

Two Down:

SFA has GOT to get off to better starts.  We are 11-8 on the year, but just 8-11 in first sets.  Too often, an opponent has come out of the gate firing on us and put us back on our heels.  We never lead in Set 1 and found ourselves down by as many as eight against UIW.  Again, credit the Cardinals for a well-played set, but the 'Jacks need to be ready to roll from Serve 1.

Second, these leads!  We have to hold them when we get them, right?  I guarantee you Humphreys was impressed with the fight displayed by the team in losing Set 3 (that's actually one of the Ups below), but hey.. we were ahead 18-12 in that set!  It shouldn't have gone to 31!  After the score was 18-12, UIW scored 10 of the next 11 points.  That can't happen.  I've already mentioned we were up 10-4 in Set 5 and that evaporated as well.  So, look for SFA to improve upon sealing the deal when they are up five, six, seven points late in sets.

Two Up:

Say it with me:  Abigail P. McIntyre.  Actually, her middle initial isn't P.  At least, I don't think so.  And, well, I don't even know if her birth name is Abigail either, but it sounds cool. My point?  We are watching McIntyre flourish into a much better all around player here in Year 2.  She was amazing last night.  Are you kidding me?  Almost a triple-double?  14 kills, 12 digs, 7 blocks and 3 aces.  Yeah, that's good.

Second, I love the team "fight".  No backing down.  I asked Humphreys after the five-set comeback against Tulsa if that was a match that they could look back on if they got down during SLC play to remind themselves that they could scratch back.  Just call me Prophet Blogger.  No, wait.  That sounds stupid.  Abigail P. McIntyre sounds better.  But, I digress.  The point is that in the Tulsa match, and others, the team has developed some edginess and resiliency.

I like it.  I like it, I tell ya.

Oh, and one last thing.. don't mess with our back row.

#BackRow

Anchor of the Back Row: OJ Olson

Click here to go to the YouTube video interview with OJ Olson

Let's get straight to it:  OJ Olson is the odds on favorite for 2015 Libero of the Year in the Southland Conference.  In the interview you'll watch (link above), she clearly states she wouldn't trade that honor for the championship she helped the 'Jacks earn in 2014 and I have no doubt that response is genuine.  Still, as someone who picks All-Conference teams each year here at this site, one has to wonder what Olson has left to prove.

Olson will cement herself as a digging legend when all is said and done in December.  There is Stephanie Figgers and then everyone else when it comes to 'Jacks back row defenders.  Figgers was the best libero this league has ever seen. Olson is on pace to finish near Maddie Hanlan in total digs as a 'Jack.  Health permitting, OJ will join Figgers and Hanlan as the only Ladyjacks to amass 2000+ digs in their time in purple.

Unlike some of the other other all-time leaderboards at SFA, I've seen all the top stat-gatherers at libero that SFA has put on the floor.  If you want to call Olson the 2nd best libero in SFA history, I probably won't argue with you.  I'm still sorting out her strengths versus Hanlan's in my mind.  By the end of the year, I may get off the fence.  One benefit of OJ's career is that she has been healthy her entire time here in Nacogdoches.  Hanlan, unfortunately, had to deal with several large scale injuries and recoveries during her playing career.

Honestly, this may be a down year for off-colored jersey in the Southland.  I made a list of all the projected liberos recently and the tally of truly strong players at that position can probably be counted on one hand.  There are many new liberos and inexperienced ones suiting up for our Southland competition in  2015.  That, coupled with OJ's sheer dominance and reputation should set her up for a strong run at hardware come voting time in November.

Actually, she was as good a choice as any for the award in 2014.  She was my pick as you can recount here.  Part of the trouble with individual awards in this conference is that the voters seem to forget that these aren't team awards.  Or at least, if they realize it, they don't apply their knowledge when they vote.  Two things repeatedly happen in SLC voting for all-conference:  1) Because the process is flawed, undeserving players get too many votes because of coach submitted pre-rankings and 2) standout players on poor teams don't get their due.

Coaches submit ranked lists of up to five players and then other coaches and SID's use these lists to pick their top players overall in the conference (by ranking them from 1 to 18).  The top 12 get first team (as if, 12 is a team?) and then the next six form the second team.  This sort of convoluted way of voting allows coaches to have too much power and creates crazy lists of "teams" sometimes containing 6 blockers, 3 setters and no liberos or something like that.  Case in point, last years' 2nd team All-SLC squad had three middles, two liberos and one outside hitter.  I've never seen that combination of girls form a "team" in my entire life.

I know the point is to obtain a list of the top 18 players in the conference, but wouldn't you think that if that were really the goal then coaches and SID's could just make their 18 picks without the lists of five submitted by each coach?  A few times, coaches have COMPLETELY left a player off the ballot that others thought were highly deserving (see Pancratz, Jessica, Oral Roberts University, 2012).  At other times - like SFA last year - the list serves to minimize the contributions of players on strong teams.  SFA had Jill Ivy, Paige Holland, Jacque Allen, Justice Walker and OJ Olson  all deserving of post-season honors. Shoot, maybe all five should have been on the first team.  But, Humphreys unfortunately is asked to rank those five players.  Now, whoever gets ranked 4th or 5th on that list is going to look less-valued to the rest of the voters when that simply isn't the case.

If instead, coaches and SID's are asked to submit a list of 18 or so players without the coaches pre-ranks, an SID or opposing coach can reasonably look at the season, the stats, and use their memory to assess that SFA has five players all deserving of being in the Top 12.  But, there is less chance of that happening while they are sitting there looking at a list that has a name like OJ Olson or Justice Walker listed 4th or 5th on the team ranks.  Now, I want to be clear.  I don't 100% KNOW that Olson was ranked 4th or 5th.  Humphreys' might have told me how she set them - sometimes I know that after the fact - and sometimes I don't.  I have NEVER asked her how she voted, yet we talk about players together a lot.

For instance, I know she had winner Heather Schnars at the top of her picks last year, whereas I would have chosen Devaney Wells-Gibson.  She read my post to learn my choice and the coaching staff and I talked about how they preferred Schnars while we were all sitting around between matches at the SLC Tourney last year.  I know people that voted like she did.  I know people that submitted actual votes like my blog ballot.  I don't have an actual vote in the All-SLC teams published by the conference, but do occasionally get a media vote for All-Tournament teams.  I print my lists here before the conference does and so I specifically do NOT want to know how coaches are setting their lists to avoid the bias I am arguing against here in this post.

Oh well, that's in the past.  The facts for the here-and-now are that OJ Olson is the best libero in the conference.  If she puts up stats and we get wins and she leads the way like she has for the last two years, you can bet I'll be clamoring all season long for the voters to get it right this time.  See - that's just the thing - Olson is so good that she probably can eventually overcome any balloting system.

She just shouldn't have to.

SFA has been blessed by having back-to-back standouts in Maddie Hanlan and OJ Olson anchoring the back row.

It sure is nice knowing we'll have the libero advantage all season long when we make our run at a repeat for conference champions!  #AxeEm

6th Annual SFA Volleyblog.net All Conference Teams

SCROLL TO BOTTOM FOR UPDATES/REACTION TO OFFICIAL ALL-SLC TEAMS

REMINDER:  SFA VolleyBlog Radio will broadcast the entire 2014 Southland Conference Tournament starting Friday at 11 AM.  Just click on the radio button above and you're all set!!

Well, for the 6th time, here we go.  This is my list for All-Conference performances in 2014. In case you are reading this after 11/20/14,  please note that this list was released well before the official conference announcement which will come on Wednesday, November 19.

Like in previous years, I suspect I will periodically comment on this article over the next week.  I will indicate updates at the bottom of the post with boldface time stamps.  For now, I will repeat a few phrases from years gone by about my selection process:

Recall,  I actually pick "teams". The conference does not do this. Typically, the conference puts 12 girls on the first team, six girls on the 2nd team and has 6 to 9 girls listed as honorable mention for a total of 24 to 27 girls recognized. I will have three teams of seven for 21 girls honored and then a list of the players I considered for the lists and "just missed".

As I have said each of the last five years: "There are seven starters each night for any particular team, so we will pick seven girls per team. Each team is required to have a a setter, libero, two middle blockers, two hitters and a seventh player that can either be MB or OH."

2014 SFA VolleyBlog.net All-Southland Conference Teams and Awards:

First Team:

OH Devaney Wells-Gibson, Sam Houston
OH Heather Schnars, Central Arkansas
RS  Jill Ivy, Stephen F. Austin
MB Jacque Allen, Stephen F. Austin
MB Chelsea Grant, Lamar
S Kayla Armer, Houston Baptist
L OJ Olson, Stephen F. Austin

Second Team:

OH Jessica Wooten, Houston Baptist
RS Briana Brink, Texas A&M Corpus Christi
OH Kaci Eaton, Nicholls
MB Glynna Johnson, Northwestern State
MB Justice Walker, Stephen F. Austin
S Michelle Griffith, Sam Houston State
L Kalynn Egea, Nicholls

Third Team:

OH Evie Singleton, Central Arkansas
RS Mackenzie Neely, Northwestern State
UTIL Ivy Baresh, Texas A&M Corpus Christi
MB Cortney Moore, Lamar
MB Allison Doerpinghaus, Houston Baptist
S Paige Holland, Stephen F. Austin
L Morgan Todd, Southeastern Louisiana

Just Missed (in order of position played):  OH Jennifer Loerch, ACU, OH Ashley Phelps, TAMUCC, OH Angelique Vidaurri, UIW, L Bailey Martin, Northwestern State, S Kristyn Nicholson, TAMUCC, MB Lexi Mercier, ACU, MB Rachel Cagnina, McNeese, MB Brittany Gilpin, TAMUCC, UTIL Stacey DiFrancesco, NSU.

(FWIW, the two that were toughest to leave off were Loerch and Martin)

Player of the Year:  Devaney Wells-Gibson, Sam Houston
Setter of the Year:  Kayla Armer, Houston Baptist
Libero of the Year:  OJ Olson, Stephen F. Austin
Newcomer of the Year: Kaci Eaton, Nicholls
Freshman of the Year:  Kristyn Nicholson, TAMUCC
Coach of the Year:  Debbie Humphreys, Stephen F. Austin

Player of the Year Discussion:
I think there are three strong candidates for this award:  Wells-Gibson, Schnars and Ivy.  Don't get me wrong, I would love for Jill Ivy to win for obvious reasons.  However, I think all things considered, Wells-Gibson should get it.  If Ivy wins it, then I will be elated.  If Schnars wins it, then that is a great choice - no problem with that at all.  She's a beast.  To be perfectly honest, knowing how voters have typically voted, I would be willing to bet that Schnars actually wins it because of the high attack percentage numbers.  Schnars hit .300, Ivy hit .263 and Wells-Gibson hit .203.  Let me ask you something?  Shouldn't serve errors count, too?  If you are willing to indulge-

Here is my assessment of the three:

1) Statistical Argument:
Wells-Gibson had 520 kills, 41 aces, 9 block solos, 25 block assists for 582.5 points
She had 233 attack errors, 39 service errors, 22 return errors, 1 block error and 3 ball handling errors for 298 points against.  That's a net positive 284.5 across 108 sets for a 2.63 NET avg.

Schnars had 425 kills, 36 aces, 13 block solos, 19 block assists for 483.5 points
She had 121 attack errors, 85 service errors, 29 return errors, and 1 ball handling error for 236 points against.  That's a net positive 247.5 across 101 sets for a 2.45 NET avg.

Ivy had 386 kills, 30 aces, 6 block solos, 70 block assists for 439 points
She had 126 errors, 18 service errors, 10 return errors and four blocking errors for 158 points against.  That's a net positive of 281 points across 104 sets for a 2.70 NET avg.

But, we haven't factored in digs.  Which is important since all three of these girls play all the way around.  Wells-Gibson had 2.85 digs per set compared to 2.09 digs per set for Schnars and 2.06 for Ivy.  To me, statistically, this pushes Wells-Gibson back out front.  Finally, in terms of serve return, Sam Houston seems perfectly comfortable with Wells-Gibson in return.  Central Arkansas appears not to mind Schnars in return, but would prefer Berringer/Hunt, I'd think.  Go look at the the total return numbers.  Wells-Gibson received almost as many serves as the SHSU libero and over 200 more than Schnars.  SFA is OK with Ivy in return, but since this is Ivy's first and only complete six-rotation year, they'd prefer Olson/Martin to take serves.

So, I am not trying to argue against our own player - and not really against Schnars either, but I just think when you consider all the statistics that you have available for 2014, Wells-Gibson wins out.

2) Eye Ball Test Argument
Statisticians don't like these type of touchy-feely ways of arguing, but I think many people vote more from instinct than stats, so here goes:  If you were drafting a Southland Conference Fantasy Volleyball team and you had first pick, who would you take?  My eyes tell me Wells-Gibson.  She's the better athlete, more smooth, can score from anywhere and is the one person I'd want to swing with the game on the line.  Again, this takes NOTHING away from Schnars and Ivy.  Schnars can also score at will from all over the court.  Ivy hits the ball as hard as anyone in the conference, but Wells-Gibson has the all-around game and athleticism edge ever so slightly.

Setter/Freshman Discussion:
Oh man, did I debate this.  I even took my lament to Facebook a few days ago:

Greg Miller

November 12 at 11:30pm ·

Setters. Why is it so hard to rank setters? Armer? Griffith? Holland? Where is Marissa Collins when you need her?

Actually, Collins is in Sweden playing professionally, but that's not the point.  I probably had these three setters in every possible order on my "ballot" at some point in the last week.  Just recently, I wrote a post that said Holland has every right to win this award.  Armer didn't play all that well against us so I still had a little negative vibe there.  In the end, I leaned a little more toward my own style of setter with the pick.  I won't rehash all that in this space, but you can read previous articles where I had stated my preference for setters that are in Armer's mold.  It could go a number of ways, but Kayla Armer is really good and I've believed that for two years now.  She just got overshadowed by all the senior studs last year.

Ashley Ellis of Lamar put up some good numbers, but I'll decline to comment in writing about why I didn't put her on the list.  Nicholson at TAMUCC was close too, and of course, you see I took her at Freshman of the Year.  Which by the way, I think the Freshman has to be Nicholson or Gilpin of TAMUCC.  I went with Nicholson over Gilpin purely because of her position and how much responsibility it was to coordinate an offense with senior players like Brink and Phelps and also have to mesh new players like Gilpin and Felux.

I always get both praise and criticism for these lists and that is perfectly fine.  I've been told that my lists make more sense than any other and I've been told I am on "crack".   I can take it, it comes with the territory of player evaluation.

Comment away below if you'd like.  And AS ALWAYS, if you see me at the conference tournament - which if you are there - you will, because I will be all over the place doing radio and interviews and posting stuff like crazy, then please, strike up a conversation.  I love to talk volleyball and will certainly respect good counterpoints.

Can't wait for the official lists on Wednesday!  I also can hardly wait to get to Natchitoches on Friday!

Update:  Wednesday, 11/19 9 PM
The official all-conference teams got announced this afternoon and overall I think the lists are a very good representation of the players that deserve accolades.  If you factor in my decision to place three hitters, two blockers, a setter and a libero on each team, then my list and the official one show a large amount of agreement.  For instance, Singleton of UCA officially made the first team, but since she was the 7th hitter on the list, using my system she comes in at 3rd team - which is exactly where I placed her.  Of the 18 girls officially on the first and second teams, 17 of them appear on my teams.

These are my main observations of the official lists:

• As said earlier, although Holland, Armer and Griffith play for teams with different styles and have different styles themselves,  I didn't see a huge gap between the three.  At least one rough draft of my lists had Holland first and Armer third.  I'm beyond thrilled that Paige got Setter of the Year.  I think there are several deserving setters and clearly I like Armer just a bit more than the official voters.
• Texas A&M Corpus-Christi is under represented.
• There is still too much "team bias".  For some reason, official voters repeatedly ignore strong performances by players on teams that finish in the middle or lower end of the standings. This is terribly unfortunate.  Team awards are called standings, trophies, championships and seeds.  It is an absolute crime that a player can finish third in the nation in a major statistical category and then finish fourth in the league voting at her position.  When stuff like that happens, it makes the conference look silly.
• Schnars is an excellent choice for POY.  She would have had my #2 vote if submitting a list of 18 as the voters do.  Doerpinghaus was my #2 choice at Newcomer, so both of those awards are nice picks.  I am a huge Heather Schnars fan, so that honor is pleasant to see although I would have loved to have seen Jill Ivy win.  See the Wells-Gibson, Schnars, Ivy breakdown in the original post for my reasoning.
• I am so happy for SFA Volleyball.  It is so awesome to see all those names.  Ivy, Allen, Walker, Holland, Olson, Humphreys all obtaining recognition is great visibility for our program.

• The Southland Conference has four liberos that finished in the Top 50 in the nation in digs per set.  None of these girls won Libero of the Year.  You MIGHT could explain away one or two of those performances based on intangibles, non-statistical arguments, the eye-ball test, etc, etc.  But you will NOT convince me that ALL FOUR of those girls can be passed over for those reasons.  You will not convince me that a player that had more than 100 less digs than the conference leader and finished 7th in conference play in digs per set has strong enough non-statistical evidence in her favor to leapfrog FOUR PLAYERS for the highest honor at the position. 

But I don't blame the voters for this misstep. I blame the system.  When coaches submit their own rankings of five players it stacks the deck for others to play with.  I have said, many, many times that if we are to truly take lists like this seriously, then the population to choose from for all awards should be the entire rosters of every team.  Coaches SHOULD NOT prioritize their players for league use.  We should not try to make All-Conference voting easier for the voters. The impact a player has made on the league or their program in past years should have NO BEARING on voting in the present year.  The list clearly has the label "2014" at the top of it.

I'm pleased Nicholson won the Freshman of the Year, but the current rules prevent TAMUCC from submitting multiple names of freshmen.  This creates bias against teams that have multiple freshmen that are under consideration.  Let the league decide by an open vote.  Don't give a program the power to filter the list of candidates.

Finally, I actually chuckled out loud when I noticed that the 2nd "TEAM" All-Conference list is made up of three blockers, two liberos and a hitter. If you want to honor the league's choice of the top 18 players, then just call the list "2014 All Conference Selections".  But to call three blockers, two liberos and one outside hitter a "team" isn't just small differences in preferred semantics - it's goofy.

#FreeEgea  #FreeOlson

Junior Achievement

YouTube Interviews!!!

Click Here for the chat with Madison Martin

Click Here for the interview with Keeley Kainer

Click Here for Debbie Humphreys Post Match Comments After ULM Match

This week we are focusing exclusively on the Juniors.  We've got a lot of 'em.  Seven, to be exact.  As you'll read below, there is a ton of talent in this class and that is really exciting when thinking forward to their 2015 senior season.  It gives peace of mind to consider that the team will have this much experience and leadership.

But before we get to the player capsules, I can't help but put something down on paper about the match against Louisiana-Monroe in Shelton Gym last Wednesday.  Was that a crazy match or what?  I honestly think that the 2nd set of that match was one of the most zany sets I have ever seen. C'mon - how many times do you see a team that has one setter listed on their roster?  Basically never.  Now, how many times have you ever seen a team with one setter listed on their roster have that girl get hurt and then shift into a TWO setter offense?  That's just insane!  It's more humorous to think about now that we won the match.  At the time, it was almost surreal.

The set played out with incredible drama because it was clear that ULM was patching things together and holding on for dear life.  With all due respect, there is no way ULM wins that set if it is played to 35 rather than 25.  SFA dug themselves an early hole, getting down by as many as seven with the score 7-14.  A play or two later, ULM setter Bayleigh Hoffman hurts her ankle and has to leave the game.  From that point forward in Set 2, the Warhawks went to hitter Hope Pawlik and DS Mary Anselmo in a 6-2 offense.  When Pawlik was setting, she set the middle approximately 90% of the time.  It was incredible - an absolute grasping at straws.  SFA managed to go on a 16-9 run to tie it at 23.  Now I swear, if you had just given us one or two more rotations, we would have pushed ahead.  Instead, an attack error... and then a kill by "setter" Pawlik, of all people, ended the set and sent us down 0-2 at the half.

That 10 minute break was one of disbelief and frustration. But, you know, all is well that ends well and boy, did it ever "end well".  After intermission, the block showed up big time and Kelsi Bartlett gave us a lift.  That, coupled with a switch to a 5-1, allowed SFA to motor on to three straight set wins and a five set overall victory.  The ULM game is one that everyone there soon won't forget.   Just a crazy, crazy, Jekyll and Hyde match.

Let's take a look at our junior class for 2014.  For each player, we will briefly talk about what she brings to the court and then I'll finish the "blurb" with a personal observation from the fans point of view...

Let's just go in alphabetical order by last name.

Jacque Allen (MB)

What she brings:  a ton of raw athletic talent, Jacque can be an absolute beast at the net.  Last year, she was among the conference leaders in blocks per set and it would be a safe bet to see her on the leader boards again this year.  If there is one player that is likely to come away with that phenomenal, inside the 10-foot line, thundering kill...it is Jacque.  You know those plays that send people rocking back in their seat, covering their mouths, and elbowing the dudes sitting next to them?  Yeah, that's Jacque Allen.

My Take:  One day during August, I happened to pop in on a practice where the team was testing vertical leap.  You may have seen these devices that have spikes that players reach for to touch in order to measure how high they can jump/reach.  After the entire team had their measurements taken, Jacque asked for another turn.  She was sure she could reach that extra inch even though she hadn't been able to get it when it was her turn.   The team all clapped in unison and Jacque stepped back to get her approach.  She got the extra spike on her final attempt.  That day told me something about her resilience.

Tori Bates (OH)

What she brings:  A little bit of everything and the potential for a whole lot of one thing.  Tori has had games where she was an offensive force and other games where she has steadied the back row.  She has the capability to play all the way around due to her total package skill set.  Injuries have at times necessitated only three rotations at a time.  But, when this has come up, Tori has typically responded well.  There is a saying that once you've proven you have a skill, then you own it.  Tori has a track record and because of that, deservedly will get a shot at establishing herself as an integral part of the lineup.

My take:  Since she first came on campus, Bates has been one of my favorite players at SFA.  I think there is room for additional growth in terms of her last two years productivity in purple.  The team has the flexibility to switch up her role until they find just the right level of utility to maximize overall team synchronicity when she is on the floor.  Tori makes it easy to root for her.  She is extremely kind and polite.  We'll need her. My hope is she is as healthy as she possibly can be and takes a step forward to become the force that she was easily projected to be after her freshman year.

J'Keisha Evans (OH)

What she brings:  Athleticism.  In droves.  Her experience at Panola certainly projected her to provide part of the team's foundation on the left side.  She just needs a bit of time to adjust to the uptick in the quality of the game at this level.  Unfortunately, she'll have to spent some measure of that time this year learning from the sidelines as a knee injury has temporarily derailed the JK train.  The timetable for her recovery is still developing.  It will be interesting to see what she can positively add to her game by watching our system and being forced to only participate mentally, rather than physically be on the floor.  Here is hoping for a speedy recovery and time well spent during rehab.

My take:  Before she was injured, my thought was that she would be really good as a senior.  To me, it looked like she needed to take 2014 to adjust and then next year, she'd probably cut loose.  Now, two things:  First, that could still very much happen.  In fact, I'd almost bet on it.  Secondly, and a bit retrospectively at this point, she very much had playing time in her future THIS YEAR if not for the knee injury.  So, SFA has themselves a very useful player here.  Don't fall asleep on her eventual role.  She could be a nice surprise on the outside after healing and a little more experience kick in.

Keeley Kainer (OH)

What she brings:  We are about to find out.  Until now, Kainer has been strictly a role player at best.  She's had very little playing time during her first two years in purple.  Sparks?  Yes.  You'll hear me discuss last years' match at HBU in her interview.  That match showed you what is in there.  Long time regarded as a player that could catch fire on the challenge team in practice, Keeley is now poised to carve a different path.  With Freshmen outside hitters challenging for playing time, Kainer has needed the added resolve and confidence she has displayed so far during 2014.  She'll also need that "overcomers" spirit the first time a dry patch hits.  Overall, could this be a breakout?  That sure would be wonderful to see, huh?

My take:  She's the #1 player I've enjoyed watching during early season scrimmages and tournament matches.  After 11 kills against just one error vs. ULM, if she has a big tournament at LaTech, I am practically going to be BEGGING Sports Information Assistant Director Kyle Rogers to submit her name for Player of the Week.  Now, I may be getting ahead of myself, but Kainer is my favorite story so far early in 2014.  It's more important how you finish that how you start.  If Kainer keeps this up, nobody is going to remember that she wore her warm-up jacket for most of her first two years.

Madison Martin (BCOH)

What she brings:  See that "BC" in parenthesis?  That stands for "ball control" outside hitter.  Man, I love me some ball control on the back row.  Martin is an absolute gem to watch on defense.  Just so solid.  I know there will always be pros and cons of 6-2 vs.  5-1 offenses , but you need six rotation outsides if you are going to sub in those setters.  With the substitutions a little more relaxed in the 5-1, players  like Martin have a greater chance to shine.  She has the moxie to make a valiant effort if asked to play on the front, but really.. her best role is exactly what she is doing now.. three rotations of nothing gets past her on the back row.  Every team needs a player like this.

My take:  I like her as back row, three rotation option numero uno.   Passing is not easy and Martin is one of the best we have at it.  I think she provides stabilization.  I like it when she's in there.  All our middle blockers ought to love her back there covering their butts.  Back row defense is always going to get my complements.  Ask Les Jackson who sits next to me this year at the media table in Shelton:  I spend half my time off mic reacting to all of Olson and Martin's sick digs.  Being a former middle, Les probably gets tired of it.  I don't care.  #BackRow, baby.  #BackRow. Yeah, I kind of want her autograph. 

Jordan McArdle (OH)

What she brings:  Something we really need  -  Depth for the outside.  Jordan is one of those players than you just know will get playing time in spurts.  She's started here and there, and come in off the bench at other times.  When a team doesn't have a 20 kill-per-night left side hitter, you need a set of Kainer's and McArdle's to go along with the freshmen like Bartlett and McIntyre.  Players like McArdle steady the ship when freshman predictably get lost or your go-to's like Ivy, Allen and Bates are on the struggle bus.  She can hit.  It's one thing to have depth by numbers.  It's another thing to have depth by quality.  McArdle is more the latter.

My take:  I think Jordan's got a pretty big "fun side" to her.  I don't mean that in any other way than positive.  When you watch her play, warm up or while on the sidelines, she looks like she genuinely is having fun.  I'll bet she's a prankster.  Hey, her favorite animal is a giraffe.  Just thought I'd pass that along since it was in last night's script and I didn't get to it.  Gotta do an interview with her soon, right? Maybe I've got her totally pegged wrong, but she looks like a barrel-of-monkeys fun, joking personality.  Oh, and she's got a whip of a fast arm swing.  What's not to like?

OJ Olson (L)

What she brings:  Can I make this last entry short and to the point?  OJ Olson was in the mix for libero of the year last year.  She will be this year.  She will be next year.  You got any more questions?  Good, then sit down, shut up and enjoy the dig show.

My take:  Have you noticed that the 2014 team poster features the head coach, seniors and OJ Olson?  Have you noticed whose picture is on the "Game Day" poster that sits outside of Shelton before matches?  Have you noticed who is one of only three players in the Southland averaging over 5 digs per set?  Have you noticed who has rattled off five straight matches with 20+ digs?  If you answered "no" to any of those questions... what kind of fan are you,anyway?  Figgers, Hanlan, Olson.  #LiberoUniversity.